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My research interests include intra negotiation, self-regulation, awe, and social emotions.

One project examines the role of self-negotiation in self-regulation skills. Much research on negotiation has focused on exclusively on interpersonal and intergroup negotiations at bilateral and multi-lateral levels. What is missing from the existing negotiation literature is the work on negotiation with the self. Indeed, recent work by economists and philosophers suggests failed negotiation with the self (rather than a flawed character) is a main cause for perpetual procrastination, poor academic performance, substance abuse, obesity, lack of savings, and so on. Understanding negotiation with the self should shed light on how to curb these behaviors. For example, one of my studies examines the link between how to address oneself (“I” vs. “You”) in self-negotiation and how successful the negotiation outcomes are, depending on which pronoun was used in self-negotiation. As self-regulation skills often involve self-negotiation, the results of this line of research may contribute not only to filling in empirical gap in the conflict literature but also to provide evidence-based strategies in helping students with academic difficulties.

Another research project focuses on the role of awe in motivating people to care more about their future selves. It is likely that many self-negotiations involve self-regulatory attempts aimed at achieving a desired future self. Indeed, it may be that it is partly having the idea of desired future self in mind that promotes a successful self-negotiation, and, thus successful self-regulation. Research on temporal discounting shows that the greater self-continuity between our current and future selves we feel, the more likely we delay gratification and make wise decisions. In addition to exploring the link between awe and goose bumps, with an undergraduate student and a graduate student, I have been examining the role of awe in caring for one’s future self. We presented results at conferences. I am in an early stage of writing up the results of the two studies for publication.